Means for a disconnectable bracing of a pulling device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for the detachable securing of a supporting arrangement 91) to a substantially rectangular repair platform (3) constructed of beams, on which a damaged vehicle is intended to be secured during the work of repair. The beams, on their respective outwardly facing sides are constructed with channel-shaped profiled members (4a, 4b) with mutually facing openings. These profiled members are conventionally used for fixing of equipment for repair work. At the respective beam, the lower channel-shaped profiled member (4b) projects below the outwardly facing lower edge line (3c1), of the beam side. The supporting arrangement (1) is constructed with a member (5), on the one hand for engagement with the upper side (4a1) of the upper channel-shaped profiled member (4a) and with the front sides (4a2, 4b1) of the channel-shaped members (4a, 4b), and, on the other hand, for engagement into the upper channel-shaped member (4a) and behind the downwardly-projecting part of the lower channel-shaped profiled member below the forward lower edge line.

The present invention relates to a device for the detachable securing ofa repair platform constructed of beams and substantially rectangular, onwhich a damaged vehicle is intended to be secured during the work ofrepairs, whereby said beams, on their respective outwardly facing sidesare constructed with channel-shaped profiled members placed in an areaof the upper and lower horizontal edges of said sides, having mutuallyfacing openings, said profiled members being conventionally used for thefixing of equipment for repair work.

Such a securing device is known from EP-B1-0065942. The securing memberin this case contains a seat of channel-shaped cross-section andconsists of three plates: an upper one, a lower one and a plate joiningthese with a space between them, intended to engage with the upper,lower and outer sides of the beam. A locking member consisting of arotatably mounted knob can, by being rotated half a turn, be made togrip round the inner lower corner, and to engage with a lower part ofthe inner side of the beam. The knob is designed with a locking keyintended to prevent it turning during the work of repairs, which wouldlead to the supporting arrangement coming loose from the beam.

It has been found that this known supporting arrangement, in the eventof a lack of balance, can slide to some extent along the beam, which,naturally, is detrimental to a good repair outcome and even constitutesa danger to the personnel carrying out the work of repair.

Furthermore, this known device is relatively cumbersome andtime-consuming in its securing to the repair platform, and it alsosuffers from the drawback that one could easily forget to place the keyin the intended manner.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device of the typefirst defined hereinabove by means of which an effective fixing isachieved on the repair platform, and the construction of which is suchthat slipping movements between the supporting arrangement and therepair platform are eliminated.

This is achieved according to the invention in that, at the respectivebeam, the lower profiled member projects below the outwardly facinglower edge line of the beam side; in that the supporting arrangement isconstructed with a member, on the one hand, for engagement with at leastthe upper side of the channel-shaped profiled member and with the frontsides of the channel-shaped members, and, on the other hand, forengagement into the upper channel-shaped member and behind thedownwardly-projecting part of the lower channel-shaped profiled memberbelow the forward lower edge line.

An advantageous construction of the securing arrangement ischaracterized, as claim 2 indicates, in that said member contains astructural part stationary relative to the supporting arrangement whichis designed to engage with the upper side of the upper channel-shapedmember and with the front sides of the channel-shaped members, a firstlever part rotatable around a first axle designed to bring about anengagement behind the lower channel-shaped member, and a second lockingpart, rotatable around a second axle and situated on an upwardlypointing projection on the first part, designed to come into engagementwith the downwardly facing opening of the upper channel-shaped member.

The invention will be explained in detail hereinbelow with reference tothe attached drawings in which FIGS. 1a and 1b show, in plan view fromthe side, a securing arrangement of the invention in and out ofengagement with a repair platform. FIG. 2 shows the securing arrangementin a plan view seen from the repair platform in FIG. 1a.

In the drawing 1 denotes generally part of a supporting platform carriedby wheels 2 which, in everything except the securing arrangement, is ofconventional type, and 3 denotes generally a part of a rectangularrepair platform constructed of beams. This is, on its outwardly facingsides 3a, provided with two channel-shaped profiled members 4a, 4b,which, with their openings facing each other, are placed above and belowon said outwardly facing side. These profiled members are conventionallyused for the securing of legs or wheels to support the repair platformand the securing arrangements by means of which the vehicle, which is tobe repaired, is fixed on the platform. For greater clarity theseprofiled members 4a, 4b have not been shown, and they should have beenfacing outwards from the plan of the drawing. The supporting arrangementand the repair platform reversal are well known to the specialist, forexample from EP 0 065 942, B1 and, therefore, will not be explained indetail.

According to the invention, the lower channel-shaped member 4b protrudesbelow the outwardly facing lower edge line 3a1 of the beam side 3a. Thesupporting arrangement, for securing to the repair platform 3, isconstructed with a member, generally denoted by 5, on the one hand forengagement with the upper side 4a1 of the upper channel-shaped section4a, in the embodiment shown in the drawing also with the upper side 3bof the beam, and with the front sides 4a2 and 4b1 of the channel-shapedmembers 4a, 4b, on the other hand for engagement into the upperchannel-shaped profiled member 4a and behind the lower channel-shapedsection 4b, more precisely behind the downwardly-projecting part of thelower channel-shaped member 4b below the forward lower edge line.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, said member 5 contains astructural part 5a, which is stationary relative to the supportingarrangement, and which is designed with engagement surfaces 5a1, 5a2 forengagement with the upper surface 4a1 of the upper channel-shaped member4a, and respectively with the upper and lower front surfaces 4a1, and4b1 of the upper and lower channel-shaped profiled members.

The member 5 further comprises two movable parts 5b, 5c which arerotatably mounted on their own axles 6 and 7 respectively. These areoriented transversely to the main direction of the supportingarrangement 1, ie. substantially horizontally during the work of repair.The movable part 5b which henceforth will be termed a lever part isdesigned to provide engagement behind the lower channel-shaped profiledmember 4b. The lever part 5b has for this purpose a corresponding recess5b, but in addition a bearing surface 5b2 for bearing abutment againstthe underside 3c1 of the beam of the repair platform 3. The lever part5b has two upwardly-directed projections 5b3 against which the othermovable part 5c bears. This part 5c will henceforth be termed a lockingpart, and is at its outer end 5c so designed that it fits into the slit4a3 of the upper channel-shaped profiled member 4a3. The lever part 5band with it also the locking part 5c is operated from its lower endposition out of engagement with the beam 3, which is shown in FIG. 1a,to the upper end position in engagement with the beam, which is shown inFIG. 1b, by means of the rotation of a threaded screw 8 provided at thetop with a hexagonal head 8 intended for the appropriate spanner.

Hereinbelow, the securing of the supporting arrangement to the repairplatform will be briefly explained; reversing the sequence of operationswill release the supporting arrangement from the repair platform.

From a position shown in FIG. 1a the supporting arrangement is rolledwith the help of its wheels 2 to a position at the repair platform 3,the surface 5a of which bears against the surfaces 4a1, 3b, and thesurface 5a2 against surfaces 4a2, 4b1. By turning the screw 8 clockwise,the lever arm 5b rises and therewith also the locking pare 5c, so thatthe downwardly projecting part 4b of the channel-shaped profiled member4b engages into the recess 5b1, the surface 5b2 engages the surface 3c1,and so that the outer end 5c1 of the locking part 5c can grip into thedownwardly-facing slit 4a3 of the upper channel-shaped member. In thisway, there is achieved a very reliable, play-free and robust securing ofthe supporting arrangement to the repair platform.

I claim:
 1. A device for the detachable securing of a supportingarrangement (1) to a substantially rectangular repair platform (3)constructed of beams, on which a damaged vehicle is intended to besecured during the work of repairs, whereby said beams, on theirrespective outwardly facing sides are constructed with channel-shapedprofiled members (4a, 4b) placed in an area of the upper and lowerhorizontal edges of said sides, having mutually facing openings, saidprofiled members being conventionally used for the fixing of equipmentfor repair work, characterized in that, at the respective beam, thelower profiled member (4b) projects below the outwardly facing loweredge line of the beam side; in that the supporting arrangement (1) isconstructed with a member, on the one hand, for engagement with at leastthe upper side of the channel-shaped profiled member and with the frontsides of the channel-shaped members, and, on the other hand, forengagement into the upper channel-shaped member and behind thedownwardly-projecting part of the lower channel-shaped profiled memberbelow the forward lower edge line.
 2. A device according to claim 1,characterized in that, said member contains a structural part (5a)stationary relative to the supporting arrangement (1) which is designedto engage with the upper side (4a1) of the upper channel-shaped member(4a) and against the front sides (4a2, 4b1) of the channel-shapedmembers (4a, 4b), a first lever part (5b) rotatable around a first axle(6) designed to bring about an engagement behind the lowerchannel-shaped profiled member (4b), and a second locking part (5c),rotatable around a second axle (7), and situated on an upwardly pointingprojection (5b3) on the first part, designed to come into engagementwith the downwardly facing opening (4a3) of the upper channel-shapedprofiled member (4a).